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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. To drill or not to drill? Lauren Elmegreen ESP Seminar 10/13/05. Geological Impacts. Flooding Thermokarst Thawing of ground ice Results in depressions that fill with water to create lakes, causing more warming.

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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

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  1. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge To drill or not to drill? Lauren Elmegreen ESP Seminar 10/13/05

  2. Geological Impacts • Flooding • Thermokarst • Thawing of ground ice • Results in depressions that fill with water to create lakes, causing more warming http://www.beringia.com/climate/content/permafrost.shtml

  3. Caribou http://arctic.fws.gov/caribou.htm

  4. Cameron, R. D. et al, Arctic, 58.1 (2005): 1(9)

  5. http://arctic.fws.gov/caribou.htm

  6. How much oil is there? • Mean estimate: 7.8 billion barrels • In 12 years, we would get 1 million barrels per day (mbd) • In 18 years, we would reach a maximum of 1.3 mbd • In 23 years, we would get less than 1 mbd

  7. But, still in economic interest of oil companies… • Cleveland, C. J. and R. K. Kaufman. 2003. Energy Policy (31): 485 - 489.

  8. Fingerprint • The bill states the need to “ensure that the maximum amount of surface acreage covered by production and support facilities, including airstrips and any areas covered by gravel berms or piers for the support of pipelines, does not exceed 2,000 acres on the Coastal Plain” http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/crs_anwr.shtml

  9. However… • 2000 acres does not include roads • The 2000 acres do not have to be contiguous • 100,000 acres of Native lands in the area are not included

  10. Summary • Drilling could impact the geology of ANWR • Wildlife such as caribou could be harmed • ANWR oil production would not make a big difference to our economy • The 2000 acre fingerprint that is often cited is misleading

  11. References • Cameron, R. D., W. T. Smith, R. G. White and B. Griffith. 2005. Central Arctic caribou and petroleum development: distributional, nutritional, and reproductive implications. Arctic (58): 1-9. • Cleveland, Cutler J. and Robert K. Kaufman. 2003. Oil supply and oil politics: Deja Vu all over again. Energy Policy (31): 485 - 489. • Walker, D. A. et al. 1987. Cumulative impacts of oil fields on Northern Alaskan landscapes. Science (238): 757-761. • The Policy Almanac: http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/crs_anwr.shtml • Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.savearcticrefuge.org/ • US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska: http://arctic.fws.gov/

  12. Brant and Snow Geese http://www.astronomy-images.com/day-images/California/Birds/brant-geese.htm

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